Learning the ropes

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) launches training base in Enfield – its first outside the United States

NXT UK champion Pete Dunne, also known as ‘The Bruiserweight’, speaking at the launch of the new WWE UK Performance Center in Enfield

An industrial estate off the A10 has
become the new British home of professional wrestling.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has
for decades been the leading promoter of theatrical grappling and the
UK is said to have its largest fanbase outside of North America. Tens
of thousands regularly flock to WWE shows in London and elsewhere
around the country, inspiring several other smaller wrestling
promotions to gain a cult following of their own. But WWE has never
had a permanent presence in the UK – until now.

Inside a warehouse on the Great
Cambridge Industrial Estate in Enfield has been created a
17,000-square-feet performance centre where WWE’s young recruits can
hone their skills in one of two training rings and under the guidance
of seasoned pros and former superstars such as Shawn Michaels (‘The
Heartbreak Kid’) and Matt Bloom (‘A Train’, ‘Prince Albert’,
‘Tensai’).

Professional wrestling is non-competitive, with outcomes pre-determined and fights dramatised for entertainment, but to become a WWE superstar requires just as much determination, dedication, talent and physical athleticism as other professional sports.

At the launch of WWE’s new UK
Performance Center (don’t blame us for the American spelling),
trainer Robbie Brookside said: “This is a dream come true. Going
back to 1988, when ITV unplugged their World of Sport
wrestling show, ever since then we’ve wanted to get British wrestling
back on TV.

“I came back here two years ago with
WWE, trying to build the British brand – and this place is now our
home.”

One of WWE’s weekly television shows, NXT, last year launched a British version, NXT UK, featuring homegrown wrestling stars such as Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, and Trent Seven. They are not the first British wrestlers to make it big in WWE, of course, with legends such as British Bulldog and William Regal paving the way before them – while the story of former women’s champion Paige is about to be told in a Hollywood film – but the new training centre in Enfield now means there is a dedicated space for wrestlers to hone their craft.

First-ever WWE Universal champion Finn Balor (centre) is joined by Tyler Bate (left) and Trent Seven (right) – who together form the tag team ‘Moustache Mountain’ – at the launch of the WWE UK Performance Center in Enfield

Tyler Bate and Trent Seven currently
wrestle as a tag team called Moustache Mountain. Asked by Enfield
Dispatch what advice they’d give to fans who dream of one day
joining them in WWE, Tyler said: “Watch as much wrestling as you
can. I spent a lot of time travelling around and meeting people and
being nice to them. Being a nice person can go a long way.”

Pete Dunne, the current NXT UK
champion, helped introduce the new training centre last month. He
said: “With this amazing facility, we have a chance to train
together and develop together, and that only increases the feeling of
being part of a winning team.”

Last month’s launch was also attended
by Shawn Michaels, a four-time WWE world champion who is now a
trainer, and Triple H (‘The Game’), a 14-time world champion who is
now the company’s executive vice president of talent. Both will make
regular visits to the new UK Performance Center, with Shawn helping
to develop upcoming talent. “If you think it’s cool to be in the
ring with me, you’re right, because I’m a pretty cool dude,”
explained Shawn.